New Citroen seven-seat people-mover

The new people-mover is the first car for the Citroen-Peugeot group to ride on its all-new modular architecture - dubbed EMP2. The company wants to build its next generation of vehicles - from city cars to SUVs and even commercials - on the new underpinnings.

So not only does the new Picasso carry the brand's hope in the people-mover segment but also gives the first indication of its future direction.

And the first impressions are good.

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In the Picasso the new underpinnings immediately impress. For a people-mover it feels responsive, rides comfortably and doesn’t lean as much as some of its rival in the bends. The steering is nicely weighted for around-town driving too.

The new Picasso also possesses the first of a new generation of turbo diesel engines that meet future European emissions standards.

Regardless of its environmental credentials the new engine - called BlueHDi - does a good job of hauling the seven-seat Picasso along. Peak torque, a healthy 370Nm, is available between 2000 and 2500rpm so there is plenty of low-rev pulling power, making the Picasso feel quick for a family hauler.

It’s paired to a new six-speed automatic gearbox that does a reasonable job of keeping the engine in its sweet spot but also finding tall gears when needed to improve fuel economy.

But people-mover buyers will likely be more interested in how spacious the Picasso is rather than the finer points of its driving dynamics.

Nice materials have been used on the dashboard that is dominated by a 12-inch high-definition instrument screen positioned top and centre. The digital graphics live up to the rest of the design, looking almost like something from a science-fiction spaceship.

As well as displaying the speedo, the screen also acts as the trip computer, navigation screen and monitor for the 360 degree parking cameras. Or you can upload your own photo to act as a wallpaper alongside the display.

Lower down the dashboard is a 7-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. It features nice graphics too and is intuitive to use.

The space inside the cabin is impressive, given the overall size of the vehicle. Its total length is the same as the old model but the wheelbase has been stretched to 2.84m, from 2.73m, to create even more room for passengers and luggage.

The feeling of airiness is helped by the huge windscreen that extends well into the roofline. There are also two thin windscreen pillars either side of the cabin to create an extra side window to improve forward visibility.

Legroom in the second row seats is very good, although headroom will be tight for taller adults. Although the Picasso is narrow the second row can accommodate three people in comfort because instead of a bench seat there are three individual seats and a fully flat floor.

Third row seating is primarily for children but adults would be able to tolerate it on short journeys because legroom can be increased by sliding the second row seats forward. Accessing the third row seats is easy thanks to the second row seats bases that flip up, allowing the seat to slide completely out of the way.

The boot is 69-litres bigger that the old model, now 654-litres, with the second row seats in place. It’s both deep and wide, providing a useful load area.

Small item storage in the front is also good thanks to a long, lidded box between the front seats.

The Picasso may be a niche vehicle in Australia but the new underpinnings and engine suggest its future models could help turn the brand’s local fortunes around.

12 comments so far

I really like these but the previous model was let down bigtime by the gearbox which was ridiculously jerky in automatic mode at low speeds - it made the VW DSG and Alfa Selespeeds seem smooth - so it's great to see they've addressed the biggest flaw of the old model by reverting back to a 'normal' automatic gearbox.

I dispute that they're only $4500 dearer than the previous model though, they were $29,990 driveaway all day, every day for way over a year when they were on runout (unless those were all 'demonstrators' with a couple of hundred k's on them).

I still wouldn't buy one though - modern French interiors and the Australian sun don't play well together at all - hopefully that's something Dong Feng can help them rectify.

Commenter

dj

Location

Date and time

February 27, 2014, 9:47AM

dj, that might have been true of French interiors 80's & early 90's but my 15 y.o. Gti6 shows no sign of degrading.They're as good as anything out there in the marketplace.

Would like to see a better rear pic as that, to me is the only challenging aspect of the exterior design. Heaps better than- eg: the new Honda Odyssey.

Commenter

JR

Location

Nth Box Hill

Date and time

February 27, 2014, 12:30PM

I have to agree with JR. These cars are rock solid these days. I have a 2002 C3 ad it has not missed a beat.

Commenter

Daniel

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 28, 2014, 7:34AM

I have no trouble with the interiors in my three citroens (2004 C2, 2007 C4 & 2008 C5). The C2 and C4 are not garaged and they show no ill effects of being let out in the sun and other weather extremes. The only car I have had sun / interior problems with was a Toyota Camry Station wagon, with the dash cracking and separating. We did do 325 000km in that car though.

Pity the article did not mention that this new Picasso has a 6 year Unlimited Km warranty plus 6 years free roadside assistance. Applying to this C4 Grand Picasso, and to the DS3, DS4 and DS5 models, as from March the first. Should help those a little concerned by the comments re reliability from the French car knockers in Australia.

Commenter

Rallynut

Location

Bathurst

Date and time

March 02, 2014, 5:47PM

Looking good, looking good. Nice curves, nice interior.

Commenter

Class

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 27, 2014, 10:20AM

It certain has looks that will be devise... Citroens tend to do that.

Boy, that's a lot of glass for a hot, sunny country like Australia. It's going to make for one well baked interior.

Commenter

sunny

Location

Sydney

Date and time

February 27, 2014, 10:51AM

We had 2008 Citroen Grand Picasso with the 2.0 t/d and the standard 6 speed auto which was replaced with the EGS in 2011. The motor/gearbox in the Picasso was great and its good to see they ditched the EGS for a normal gearbox again.

After the 3 years the dash plastics started lifting and Citroen didn't want to know us. I got a auto trimmer to fix the dash for a couple $100. Have since seen other Picasso's with the same problem.

Yes the glass area is huge but comparing the interior temperatures after a day in the sun to the Pajero we replaced it with, the Citroen was slightly cooler (that's with the sun blind shut - leave the blind open and you're in trouble!). Also the A/C in the Citroen was really strong, again better than the Pajero and other cars.

Commenter

Trickster

Location

Date and time

February 27, 2014, 2:42PM

My Renault driving friends have had their car interiors stripped by Aussie sun. If you buy something French - first stop, tinting shop.

Commenter

Whitevaliant

Date and time

March 01, 2014, 9:56AM

Picasso is a good choice of name, as it looks like a Picasso alright. However, that means it's certainly no work of art. I guess in the world of people movers, it's about par for the course and doesn't buck the trend of being forgettable.